What if the sponsor does not have the required financial ability?
The spouse of the sponsor may act as a co-signor if the sponsor does not have the required financial ability. In such case, the spouses’ combined financial abilities will be assessed, and the co-signing spouse will be equally liable in case of default. The co-signing spouse may be a common-law spouse, provided that the common-law couple has been living together for at least one year. If the combined financial abilities of the sponsor and the co-signing spouse still do not meet the minimum requirements, then the application for sponsorship will be refused. The foregoing financial requirements may not apply where the individual being sponsored is a spouse and/or one or more dependent children.
